The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-03
SOMERSET, PA. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 3, 1887.

! Her fathers man who had made his
money in business and had bought land
in more than one country naturally
looked high for his only child, and even
dreamed Of a coronet.
At the time am speaking of there
| was an Italian Marchese staying here, a
parrs7io, it is true, but good-looking fel-
low enough, with glib tongue, suave
manner and tenor voice. He was quite
a new man in Rome, and the Italians
who were here at the same time,
and who for the most part belonged to
the Vatican party, with old Dalrympie
toadied him ad adssseaHs, and Dalrymple
used to 90 about the grounds of the Kalt-
bad singing the praises of his young
friend the Marchese Cilini, to every one
he met
think it was to vex Mordaunt rather
than from any other reason, that Miss
Dalrymple encouraged the yodng ltal-
ian's attentions, for TO do the girl justice
she had not an atom of her fathers yul-
garity, and was always unaffected and
downright.
Mordaunt was jealous, madly jealous.
He had not sixpence of his own. He
was AN artist by profession, and very far
from being in the front rank of any
school. His pictures were aerely pretty
they would not sell; while his father.
who was country parson with a large
family of children, could render him no
assistance. tie knew well enough from
the first that in such circumstances, even
had the girl herself shown signs of yield
ing to his hot pursuit, the old gentleman
would have considered il almost an in
suit had .ie made a formal offer for his
daughters hand.
The Italian meanwhile was making
the running fast. Hewarbled love songs
by the hour, playing his own aecompani-
menis, and fixing his dreamy eyes on
Buff, with all that suppressed passion
that Italians, beyond all others, can 80
well feign
=. The Marchese Cellini WAS an accom-
plished man. Jack Mordaunt was not
accomplished. He could paint bit, it is
srue, bur he knew nothing of music, and
could scarcely distinguish the Dead
March in saul from God save the
Queen. Those musical morninge were
gall Of bitterness to Jack. At least he
could stand the strain no longer, and he
resolved to know his fate from Miss Dali
rymples own fair lips. He spoke his
mind with all that fierce energy which
characterized Jacks actions and made
him idolized by women-by all excepting
Buff.
8 / WAS sitting one glorious afternoon,
in one of those COSY hooks in the wilder
ness. reading Ouida's last novel, when |
heard steps approaching from the direc-
ton Of the Kanzli. along the upper path.
had chosen spot sheltered by the
thickest foliage, which hid me entirely
from view. There was, however, gapin
the trees above me from which, through
frame in the bOughs, could be seen one
of the most perfect views TO be obtained
anywhere upon the Rigi Mountain. The
footsteps approached the gapsnd stopped.
For few moments there was silence
then | heard MOrdaunt's voice, in pas
sionate pleading first. and then in pro-
found despair. l did not hear his words.
No doubt they were no more fraught
with wisdom than those Of most lovers
are, but his tone went to my heart.
There was such tremor in his voice and
now and again a sound that was almost a
sob seemed to choke his utterance Then
/ heard little mocking laugh. The foot
steps passed and died away. and |
knew that Jack Mor,iaunt had been re-
fused.
:" / never knew fellow 50 wretched in
all nv life as MorIlaunt was that night
He took me into his confidence. | tried
to comfort him, but one might as well
have tried to give comfort to the
dead
Il helped him pack his traps, for he
could not, would not stay, and the next
morning before the Kaltbad world was
stirring Mordaunt had departed to an
other hostelry.
Mordaunt had no sooner gone than
Buff Dalrymple's manner toward her
Italian suitor completely changed She
no longer gave him the slightes eneour- !
agement; indeed she snubbed him so
that his southern nature
took quick offense, and there was very /
pretty quarrel between them. 1t ended |
as such things usually end when 4 girl |
permits the attentions Of one man to stir |
the jealousy OF another. The Marchese |
CelIini proposed and was rejected-re- !
jected, too, in such unmistakable terms |
as TO lesve no room for a second appeal. I
He departed from the Kaltbad in Il whiri |
wind of passion. Old Dalrymple was fu-
rious with his daughter, and poor Buff I
herself was as miserable as even Ceini /
could have desired.
= Not long after the Marchese's depart |
ure Il picnic was organized TO some rocks /
of picturesque character in the neigh !
borhood of the klosterli Mr. Dalrymple |
and his daughter were of the party, and / /
went also.
when We reached the spot where We |
had intended to lunch We were unplests-
antly surprised 10 find it already occu- /
pied by party of people from the Schei- /
deck, among whom was Jack Mordaunt !
himself There were many of each set, /.
however, who were personally known TO /
of the other set, and the two
parties eventually anal samated and con-
tributed the contents Of their respective /
hampers to the general meal.
| saw Buff change color when she first (
noticed lack among the Scheideck party /
He bowed to her, but he did not speak. |
There WAS a settled sadness ON his hand /
some face, and his bright, bold eyes look /
ed reproachfully into hers when he rails !
ed his hat as he passed.
Not a word could get from Buff Dali |